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Comprehensive Programs and Evaluations to Help You Return to Work

After an injury or illness, many people want to return to work. Northwestern Medicine Rehabilitation Services can help you reach these goals with a functional capacity evaluation (FCE), work conditioning programs, and working hardening programs.

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What is a Functional Capacity Evaluation

A functional capacity evaluation can help you know your body’s abilities. It is like a fitness report card for your daily activities. A qualified therapist designs a series of tests to assess your physical abilities in relation to your occupational or personal needs.

You can discuss your concerns and what activities are most important to you. In addition, you can use the FCE information to create a personalized plan to improve your strength, endurance and overall function.

An FCE helps you understand:

  • Your strengths: It identifies what you can do well, like lifting boxes or bags or climbing stairs.
  • Your challenges: It highlights areas where you may need extra support, like reaching overhead.
  • Your progress: It can help document your ability to meet your everyday needs.

An FCE typically involves:

  • Talking with a therapist: They will discuss your medical history and your goals related to the FCE.
  • Tests: You will perform various tasks that mimic everyday activities, like walking, carrying objects or reaching over your head.
  • Results and recommendations: The therapist will analyze your performance and give you a clear report outlining your capabilities and any limitations. They may recommend more treatment to help you reach your goals.

How an FCE Is Used

Most commonly, FCEs are performed for people who have a worker’s compensation claim. Your employer may require an FCE after an injury or medical leave to determine if you can return to work safely. The therapist will use the FCE to determine how much rehabilitation you need to help you do everyday home and work tasks. We will give a report outlining your capabilities and limitations to the referring physician and the worker’s compensation company.

You may complete an FCE before you start a work conditioning or work hardening program. This helps make sure the program is safe and effective for you.


Work Conditioning And Work Hardening Programs

If your goal is to return to work, these programs can help you reach that goal safely. They also benefit people who want to perform better at work or prevent injuries.

  • Work Hardening Program
  • Work Conditioning Program
  • What To Expect
  • Returning To Work
  • How To Enroll In Work Conditioning Or Work Hardening Programs
This program is more comprehensive. It addresses not only physical recovery but also your mental well-being and work-related behaviors. It often includes exercises to get you comfortable performing your actual job requirements again.
This program focuses on rebuilding your physical strength and endurance to meet the demands of your specific job. It helps you train for your work tasks, such as lifting things.

Both programs involve exercises like:

  • Strength exercises to help your muscles work better
  • Cardiovascular conditioning to boost your energy
  • Flexibility training to increase your range of motion

Work hardening may also include:

  • Activities to practice specific work tasks
  • Learning proper lifting techniques and how your body worksv
  • Behavior strategies to manage pain and fatigue at work

These programs take place from Monday through Friday for four to six hours a day. Work conditioning programs can take two to four weeks. Work hardening programs can last up to eight weeks. The length of the program depends on your recovery and job.

Throughout the program, your therapist will send your FCE and all re-evaluations to your physician and the workers’ compensation company, if applicable.

You may sign a medical release form to have your information shared with whomever you choose.

Completing the programs and returning to work may involve several factors:

  • Completing the program with significant improvement
  • Completing a final FCE and demonstrating that you can perform your work duties or that you have reached a plateau in your progress
  • Getting clearance from your physician

A physician has to prescribe an FCE. If you are getting physical therapy, your physical therapist can recommend an FCE to your physician.

You must have a physician’s order to participate in a program. In workers compensation cases, you may need the company to approve ongoing treatment for these programs before you can enroll.

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    Insurance for a Functional Capacity Evaluation

    Please check with your insurance plan to find out if they cover FCEs. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover FCEs.

    To learn more about FCEs or our work hardening or work conditioning programs, please call 630.933.1500.